My visit
This was right on my doorstep, and I was a little bit curious, the perfect opportunity came around to visit, a Vulcan fly by!
The XH558 ( (the last airworthy Avro Vulcan) was flying right over the location after looking at the route map!
Off I went to get a good view and it just soo happened the roof of this control tower was the perfect place!!
The place really is trashed, but it has been sitting around for 70+ years, still an enjoyable walk around, it is located right next door to HMP Mount, and is actually located on HM Prison service land, so I was a bit wary about walking around with a DSLR and zoom lens for the Vulcan, but was left alone which was nice. I also found out later that day that someone had attempted to fly a drone over the prison and drop some drugs in the yard, so I really was lucky not to encounter the prison guards or the police.
History
Royal Air Force Bovingdon or more simply RAF Bovingdon is a former Royal Air Force station located 2.5 miles (4.0 km) south of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire and 2.5 miles (4.0 km) southeast of Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, England.
During the Second World War, the airfield was used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Eighth Air Force. It was assigned USAAF designation Station 112, station code "BV", later changed to "BZ".
This was right on my doorstep, and I was a little bit curious, the perfect opportunity came around to visit, a Vulcan fly by!
The XH558 ( (the last airworthy Avro Vulcan) was flying right over the location after looking at the route map!
Off I went to get a good view and it just soo happened the roof of this control tower was the perfect place!!
The place really is trashed, but it has been sitting around for 70+ years, still an enjoyable walk around, it is located right next door to HMP Mount, and is actually located on HM Prison service land, so I was a bit wary about walking around with a DSLR and zoom lens for the Vulcan, but was left alone which was nice. I also found out later that day that someone had attempted to fly a drone over the prison and drop some drugs in the yard, so I really was lucky not to encounter the prison guards or the police.
History
Royal Air Force Bovingdon or more simply RAF Bovingdon is a former Royal Air Force station located 2.5 miles (4.0 km) south of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire and 2.5 miles (4.0 km) southeast of Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, England.
During the Second World War, the airfield was used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Eighth Air Force. It was assigned USAAF designation Station 112, station code "BV", later changed to "BZ".
Vulcan XH558 Fly By
Looked at the time, the Vulcan was due, headed up to roof and sat there waiting for it, all of a sudden out of nowhere I saw this triangular shape heading towards me at speed, started snapping away, well the noise was amazing and as it flew past you could feel it as well.
Absolutely fantastic seeing this plane for perhaps the last time in the air, certainly something magical about sitting on a roof of an old WW2 Control Tower and seeing a Vulcan fly a few feet above you! Loved it!!
Thanks for looking folks!
